Coach, QB to meet

PackerReport.com

01/25/2006

McCarthy plans to visit Favre in Hattiesburg

The NFL Network reported that Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy talked with quarterback Brett Favre on Monday and that the two made plans to meet in Hattiesburg, Miss., after McCarthy is done scouting the Senior Bowl on Saturday in Mobile, Ala.

The report said McCarthy intended to drive from Mobile to Hattiesburg to talk with Favre and determine whether the 36-year-old quarterback plans to return to play next season.

The report said McCarthy and Favre had been leaving phone messages for one another before finally speaking to each other on Monday.

The Wisconsin State Journal also reported this week that Packers general manager Ted Thompson has been in touch via phone with Favre. The report said that Thompson has given Favre no timetable on his decision to play for the Packers in 2006.

Thompson told the State Journal that he has spoken to Favre "a couple of times, just to see how everything is going" but has not pressed him for a decision.

"We haven't really talked about that at all," Thompson said. "It's been more just, 'How you doing? What's going on? Cutting the grass today? Cut any trees down? Shot any deer?' Those kinds of questions."

Favre has a $10 million salary cap number for 2006, and his retirement would accelerate $2.4 million of unamortized signing bonus into the cap. But his departure would create a net gain of $7.6 million in cap room because his $7 million base salary and $3 million roster bonus would be wiped off the books, the State Journal reported.

The Packers can enter free agency, which begins March 3, with more than $15 million in cap room to spend on their own players. The Packers have 14 unrestricted free agents and three restricted free agents.

Thompson said he doesn't feel Favre has to make a decision before free agency begins March 3.